2011 March/April Issue - Land O'Lakes Inc.

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PERSPECTIVESPRESIDENT’S COLUMN by Chris PolicinskiBridging a Growing DivideBringing facts to the discourse on agriculture and food productionEach year at the Land O’LakesAnnual Meeting, along with reportingon the state of the cooperative,I have the opportunity todiscuss issues affecting Land O’Lakes andthe agriculture industry.This year, I addressed what is really acontinuing story – how producers canfeed a growing world population, whilethe public discourse about agriculture andfood production becomes more complicatedand contentious.A shift in focusIn today’s world, America’s farmers arefacing a challenge. They are continuallybeing called on to deliver increased productivitywith fewer resources and less impacton the environment.Given the importance of a safe, economicaland plentiful food supply, you mightexpect widespread public support for thetechnologies and management practicesthat have driven productivity and environmentalstewardship over the decades.But, ironically, we are nowhere near aconsensus of opinion. In fact, the publicdiscourse about agriculture and food productionhas moved from a discussion to adebate, and now to a growing divide.During the Annual Meeting, I discussedthree steps we can take to bridgethat divide and address the issuesand assumptions that are affecting ourindustry.1. We must continue telling the great productivitystory of agriculture – creatinga fact-based understanding among thepublic and policymakers.2. We need to do a better job of listeningand responding to messages from themarketplace.3. We need to make the case for co-existenceand choice in agriculture and foodproduction.Presenting the factsBecause only 2 percent of Americans aredirectly involved with agriculture, manypeople have no idea of the complex systemthat puts food on their table.One important message is that the 250percent increase in agricultural productivityover the past 60 years didn’t happenby chance. It was achieved through innovativetechnologies and advanced on-farmmanagement practices.The global population is expected toincrease from 6.8 billion people today tomore than 9 billion by 2050 – requiring an80 percent increase in food production.Although certain factions oppose the useof technology in agriculture, the realityis that we need even better technologyand production techniques to meet thegrowing demand.Why is this so important? Today, evenwith the strides we’ve made, 1 billionpeople worldwide are undernourished– a 19 percent increase since the 1990s.Because only 2 percentof Americans are directlyinvolved with agriculture,many people have no idea ofthe complex system that putsfood on their table.In the U.S., 50 million people – or onein every seven households – live withfood insecurity.Those are startling statistics, and hungercould become more prevalent as the populationgrows. We need to use safe, beneficialtechnologies to end the cycle of hungerand poverty that affects real people, and cancreate economic and political turmoil thatthreatens peace and stability in the world.Marketplace messagesWhen we hear misperceptions about ourindustry, it’s easy to dismiss those concerns.But the marketplace is sending ussome important messages, and we need tolisten and respond.4 growingtogether www.landolakesinc.com
One of those messages is that in theU.S. and other countries, consumers are“going green.” They care not only aboutwhat we produce, but how we produceit, and the impact agriculture has onthe environment.When it comes to environmental stewardshipand agricultural sustainability,America’s farmers have made tremendousprogress. In the dairy industry, forexample, producers are using far lessland and water resources, and are producingless waste, for each gallon of milkproduced. And we’ve seen this kind ofprogress across agriculture. A remarkableexample is the 650 percent increasein corn production since 1930, whileutilizing 13 percent less land. That’sauthentic sustainability!Animal care is another issue that hasthe public’s attention. We know the vastmajority of producers are committed tohigh-quality animal care. But this is anemotional issue, and one publicized incidentof an animal being mistreated cancast doubt on an entire industry.As responsible operators, we need todo more to promote high standards andassure the public. That’s why FarmersAssuring Responsible Management(FARM) in the dairy industry, and otherefforts like it, are so important. Theydemonstrate our commitment to animalwell-being and protect the reputation ofmembers and Land O’Lakes. Our goal isto have FARM implemented throughoutour system by year-end 2012. That’s anachievable objective, and an essential one.Food quality and safety are also areas ofconcern for consumers.Although organic food makes up a smallpart of the overall market, as consumerslook for nutritious, high-quality products,More than 50 studies wereexamined, and they showedlittle or no difference in thenutritional value of foodsproduced organically andconventionally.there seems to be a prevailing view that organicallygrown food is “better” than conventionalor biotech production.To bring some clarity to this issue,Land O’Lakes had a leading consultingfirm review the research on the nutritionalcontent of organic and conventionally producedfood. More than 50 studies were examined,and they showed little or no differencein the nutritional value of foodsproduced organically and conventionally.Regarding food safety, America has thesafest food system in the world. Yet someconsumers have a different view. In today’shighly connected world – with instantcommunication and 24-hour newscycles – when a quality problem does occur,news travels fast.As an industry and as individual organizations,we all must adhere to robustsafety and quality policies and processesthat not only identify potential issues,but also prevent problems from happening.At Land O’Lakes, we have a company-wideProduct Safety and QualityPolicy, and continue to enhance the expertiseand resources devoted to safetyand quality assurance.Co-existence and choiceLand O’Lakes members operate in agrowing industry that is at a pivotal pointas we consider what agriculture and foodproduction should become.Too often, the focus is not on how wecan feed a hungry world, but on how wedefine “good” agriculture versus “bad”agriculture, or “good” food versus“bad” food. We seem to be taking sides– it’s either large, technology-drivenfarms versus smaller farms driven byniche production practices … or organicversus conventional.We need to change the direction ofthe discussion, and make the case thatthere’s not good food or bad food basedon production techniques – there’s justfood. Very simply, the best solution to thechallenges we face is a food productionsystem built on the principles of co-existenceand choice.There is a compelling need for largefarms and advanced technologies andmanagement practices. These operationsare capable of producing the large quantitiesof safe, economical food necessaryto feed a growing global population. At thesame time, there also is an important rolefor smaller farming operations with sustainablebusiness models. They help keeprural communities vibrant and ensure customerand consumer choice.As we look to the future, our objectiveis to ensure that producers can choosethe production model that meets theirneeds, while giving consumers choices inthe products they buy. As we work to feedmore people, this commitment to co-existenceand choice is good for producersand good for the public we serve. ■Chris is the president and CEO ofLand O’Lakes, Inc. He has 30 years ofexperience in the food industry and hasbeen with the cooperative since 1997.He has been president since 2005.Chris is based in Arden Hills, Minn.www.landolakesinc.com MARCH/APRIL 2011 5
Page 1 and 2: TMMARCH/APRIL 2011THE FUTURE OFTHE
Page 3: Table of ContentsMARCH/APRIL 2011TM
Page 7 and 8: of a legislator in Washington or th
Page 9 and 10: FeedThe company’s Feed business r
Page 11 and 12: LAND O’LAKES EXECUTIVE AGRIBUSINE
Page 13 and 14: PROFILESSARA MORTIMORE, Vice Presid
Page 15 and 16: It’s easy to find critics of biot
Page 17 and 18: ECONOMIC OUTLOOK by Tom WegnerA Loo
Page 19 and 20: Josh (left) and John Zonneveld Jr.
Page 21 and 22: A truck picks up milk at Hilltop Da
Page 23 and 24: organized through MBGs in early 200
Page 25 and 26: outbreak near our plant was so broa
Page 27 and 28: 25 Years of CooperativeServiceEach
Page 29 and 30: In addition to sponsoring the event
Page 31 and 32: BUNNY CREAM PUFFSThese delightful c

2011 March/April Issue - Land O'Lakes Inc.

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